Press Release

The Wylde Wood Collective Opens at River Market

June 15, 2018

The Wylde Wood Collective opened its doors to the public at River Market on June 2, 2018.

(New Westminster, BC) June 2, 2018 —

Celebrating faerie, myth, steampunk and goth themes, The Wylde Wood Collective is a one-of-a-kind destination for fantasy enthusiasts. The store features the artistic creations of the founders of The Wylde Wood Collective: faerie art by international faerie artist Melissa Mary Duncan, jewelry made by Tracey Ernst, magical creations of Celtic costume and fabric artist, Janice Murphy, and works by writer and landscape architect dvsduncan.

The opening ceremonies were held on June 2 at 5:00 pm. Featuring folk music by The Billanannee, a photo opportunity with Mermaid Kaida, Queen of the Dragonfishes, the evening was akin to stepping into another world. Children dressed up in mermaid costumes; faeries, witches and angels roamed the floor.

“We want to build a community here—our vision for The Wylde Wood Collective is for it to be not just a store but also a centre where you can walk in with your friend or neighbour and experience enchanting things,” said dvsduncan, addressing the gathering. “This store is a dream come true. The four of us have been doing fairs for a long time, and we wanted to find a way to share our work with the world in one place. We want the space to be a model for young people; by working and producing art here, we want to inspire young people that art can be a financially viable choice today,” Duncan says. She cut the ribbon, and threw it into the air like a wedding bouquet, wishing the one to catch it success with all their dreams as well.

“We’re very fortunate to know a lot of artists and crafters whose work has never been available in stores before. They sell online but they have no local presence. We want to give that to them,” says Duncan. The Wylde Wood Collective also has exclusive rights to sell books by Pulp Literature in New Westminster. Pulp Literature is a Canadian publishing house that publishes works by Canadian authors. “We plan to change our collections along with the seasons of the year,” Duncan adds. “Our work has preoccupations with tradition, and tradition is associated with the agrarian way of life. Through our store, we want to be a reminder of nature and the old world.”

The Wylde Wood Collective is planning several activities for the local community including faerie-letter writing, talks by local artists, and drawing and sketching classes. “We’ve always loved New West, and we couldn’t think of a better place for our artistic adventures than at River Market. We love the energy, the light, and the noise of community square,” Ernst says.

Check out New West’s very own faerie world at The Wylde Wood Collective on the second floor of River Market.

About The Wylde Wood CollectiveThe Wylde Wood Collective celebrates faerie, myth, steampunk, and goth themes. From art, clothes, accessories and jewelry by local artists and crafters to works of fantasy by Canadian authors, this store is a tiny Aladdin’s cave of ever-changing wonders.

About River Market at Westminster QuayFood and fun come together every day at River Market, where the hungry and curious gather to eat, shop, and play. First opened in 1985 at Westminster Quay Public Market, the 72,000-square-foot marketplace on the Fraser River underwent a food-led revitalization in 2008 to become a hub for community life. Today, it showcases over 20 of B.C.’s best independent shops and restaurants all under one roof. Find out more at rivermarket.ca.